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MacRumors 2015 Blood Drive!
- Thread starter Doctor Q
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Wow, I have never noticed this thread before. Thanks to everyone who has donated blood!
I don't speak of this ever really, but when I was young (4-5 years old) I was diagnosed and successfully treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, which is the most common and treatable cancer that affects children. I don't remember much from back then, but I do remember my first blood transfusion. This nurse with fiery red hair and a thick NY accent told me some stranger had donated this blood to help me and that I'd have to thank them when I got better. Over two decades later I am healthy as can be, thanks in part to some truly altruistic people out there.
As a result of the condition, I am unable to donate blood. As someone who has personally benefited from the magic of blood transfusions, thank you again. If you're considering donating, do it for me since I cannot! Thanks!!!
I don't speak of this ever really, but when I was young (4-5 years old) I was diagnosed and successfully treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, which is the most common and treatable cancer that affects children. I don't remember much from back then, but I do remember my first blood transfusion. This nurse with fiery red hair and a thick NY accent told me some stranger had donated this blood to help me and that I'd have to thank them when I got better. Over two decades later I am healthy as can be, thanks in part to some truly altruistic people out there.
As a result of the condition, I am unable to donate blood. As someone who has personally benefited from the magic of blood transfusions, thank you again. If you're considering donating, do it for me since I cannot! Thanks!!!
I just saw this thread and wanted to say thank you for everyone who donates. I cannot (due to the mad cow thing) but my daughter was a micro-preemie born at 24 weeks and had 5 transfusions before her first month in the NICU. She's now going to be 11 in September.
I know without the selfless act of donating by others she never would have made it.
I know without the selfless act of donating by others she never would have made it.
Thank you for posting, A.Goldberg and TheBean75.
We might ask you to repeat these personal messages when we run our next blood drive. It really drives home the message when you realize how individual lives are affected.
We might ask you to repeat these personal messages when we run our next blood drive. It really drives home the message when you realize how individual lives are affected.
Thanks Dr. Q and everyone that donated. I have a plasma-cell dyscrasia that disqualifies me as a blood or organ donor so I really appreciate your efforts!!!
You folks ROCK!!!
You folks ROCK!!!
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Whatever I can do to help. Thank you for commitment to the cause in making this thread.
Thanks!
In case you're wondering what a blood drive has to do with Apple news and rumors, here is the backstory.
The Sixth Annual MacRumors Blood Drive runs for the month of May 2015. We ask you to donate blood and platelets this month, register for the bone marrow registry, and/or register as an organ donor. We welcome first-time donors and we'll be glad to explain what to do, give you tips, and congratulate you afterwards. Remember that every donor was once a first-time donor, and every donor is a hero every time they donate.
We hope to top our Blood Drive results from our five previous Blood Drives, which have collectively recorded donations of over 250 units of blood and platelets, and a number of new members of organ donor and bone marrow registries.
Your blood or platelet donations will help other people survive or recover from injury, surgery, or illness. Your registration as a potential bone marrow or organ donor gives you the potential to cure someone of a life-threatening disease or preserve the life of someone who suffers organ failure.
How to participate in the MacRumors Blood Drive:
1. Donate blood or platelets, in May if possible. Register as a bone marrow donor. Register as an organ donor.
Since we're in cyberspace we don't collect blood ourselves. Donate blood or platelets at a donation center or hospital in your area. Pick a day when you can spare an hour or two and make an appointment.2. Let us know about it
See our Blood and Platelet Donation page for details and donor centers by country.
To register to be a stem cell or bone marrow donor you typically fill out a form and have your cheek swabbed. Nothing to it!
Registering as an organ donor is just as easy. Depending on your country, most of it can be done online by filling out a form. You may be asked to sign a donor card or put a sticker on your driver's license.
See our Organ, Tissue, and Bone Marrow Donation page for details and donor programs by country.
The reward for donating or registering is personal satisfaction that's hard to describe. But we want to add to your reward by giving you a well-deserved pat on the back.3. Spread the word
After you donate, post to tell us about your donation or registration experience. If you donated blood or platelets, tell us how many units and if you're a first-time donor. Tell us if you've just registered as a bone marrow donor or an organ donor. You can post photos too if you want.
We're keeping an Honor Roll to give you public thanks for your generosity, and to encourage others.
- Not everyone can donate blood. Some people are unable or ineligible based on the eligibility rules in their country. Even if you can't donate blood, you can probably register as a marrow and organ donor. Please support our drive whether or not you can donate blood yourself.
Let others know about the need for these donations. Convince a friend, relative, classmate, or coworker to donate blood. If you do, tell us about it. We want to recognize your actions.
Many potential donors are still frustrated by the U.S. restrictions on gay donors, which are out of line with the U.K. and most of Europe. That's expected to change in 2015 and we have a discussion thread for it: Blood donor eligibility.
- Copy/paste this line into your forum signature:
:) [b][color=red]I support the [thread=1876781]MacRumors Blood Drive[/thread]![/color][/b] :)It'll come out like this:
- If you're eligible for an avatar, use our Blood Drive avatar this month:
Just received my 5-Gallon pin for my donation yesterday 27-Oct-2015.
I was also diagnosed and treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2010 and still dealing with side effects from it. I also had many blood transfusions. The hospital completely (somehow) ran out of A+ blood and a large blood drive was organized for me and it definitely helped me since I was in the ICU for months. Like what you said, I also cannot donate blood but everyone should be proud to help others like us by donating blood.
First, I'm glad to hear you're doing well. Adult ALL is a usually a much more serious situation than pediatric ALL. Chemo definitely can take its toll on people, but it beats the aulternative.
Blood shortages in hospitals are not that uncommon. Some blood bank supplies only have a shelf life of a few days, so they need constant replenishment. I know a hospital in Boston that will throw up a sign, throw a volunteer or two on the street, and to get people in the door when their numbers get low.
Another blood story- After the Boston Marathon bombings, some participants continued running to Mass General Hospital to donate blood. Thanks however to proper planning and previous donations (as blood takes up to 2 days to process blood) the demand to donate exceeded the demand to receive and the local hospitals to a actually had to turn away donors. Blood had previously been stockpiled 2 days in advance and following the disaster, within hours additional blood supplies had been flown in from Rhode Island to accommodate the needs. Following the incident, at least in the days following, I heard daily blood donations had doubled.
What's crazy to me is that there were quite a number of severely traumatic injuries in the marathon bombings and evoked a situation Boston hospitals had never seen. All 3 victims who passed away died at the scene. The the hundreds of victims who were transported to hospitals all survived.
A tip for donors: blood supplies are often lowest around major holidays, Christmas for example, when many regular donors are busy with other activities.
Donating blood or platelets near holidays can be especially beneficial to patients in need.
Donating blood or platelets near holidays can be especially beneficial to patients in need.
I assume there's going to be a 2016 MacRumors Blood Drive, right? In anticipation of it, I donated a bit early. 
That's nice to hear, G4-power. Yes, our annual Blood Drive will be next month, but we'll include any donations posted here.I assume there's going to be a 2016 MacRumors Blood Drive, right? In anticipation of it, I donated a bit early.
The MacRumors 2016 Blood Drive has begun. We hope to see our 2015 donors return and some first-time donors show up.
Had no idea that this drive here was going on, but I was "recruited" by the local Red Cross due to a local shortage and donated platelets last Thursday. It's hard for me to work around my work schedule, but I'll likely go again the week after next(I think platelets can be done every 7 days).
I didn't know this, but apparently my AB+ is considered "universal" for platelet donation. Don't know how that works, but they were excited when I came in.
I didn't know this, but apparently my AB+ is considered "universal" for platelet donation. Don't know how that works, but they were excited when I came in.
That's correct. Type AB donors are the universal platelet donors, which is the opposite of blood donors, where type O- is universal.
Your AB group is only about 4% of the population, so you're special! Chances are that your family members are too, so they'd be great platelet donors as well.
Indeed my mom is AB and my dad is A. When my mom had a knee replacement several years ago, she "donated" to herself and both my dad and I did the same for her.
She ended up not needing it. The ones my dad and I donated were put into "circulation"(or whatever the term is) but hers unfortunately was destroyed. As I understand it, when you have blood taken for yourself before an operation, it is not tested as rigorously as a standard donation, so can't be used for someone else.